A total of 482 cases of drowning were recorded in our country between the year 2005 and 2015.
This was highlighted by Minister for Infrastructure, Parveen Bala during the ground breaking of the new Lautoka Aquatic Centre.
Bala says 25% of these were children below the age of 10.
He says many of those who drowned did not have basic swimming skills and this worth while investment will help save lives.
Bala says to ensure that our children acquire basic swimming skills, government is encouraging schools to conduct swimming classes.
He says the new Lautoka Aquatic Centre will provide for an ideal venue for training and is ideally located close to school vicinities.
The construction of the 7.3 million dollars new Lautoka Aquatic Centre is expected to be completed in 12 months.
